The presented studies are aimed to determine the formation patterns of the gold-rare metal mineralization within one of the most inaccessible Arctic islands of the Russian Federation, Bolshevik Island of the Severnaya Zemlya archipela-go. The relevance of the work is determined by the high probability of discovering a significant in terms of metal reserves deposit, which is proved by many researchers on the example of known large deposits to be a typical feature of sites with gold-rare metal formation. Obviously, only the possibility of discovering and subsequent development of a deposit of a highly liquid type of mineral, gold, can ensure the profitability of mining production on Severnaya Zemlya. It is established that the main geological, mineralogical, and geochemical features of the gold-rare metal mineralization in the Kropotkinsko-Nikitinskaya metallogenic zone of Bolshevik Island correspond to that of similar ore sites in Russia and the world. The occurrences of other formation types revealed in this metallogenic zone suggest a certain zoning in their distribution: mineralization is located in the apical parts of granitoids and in the nearest halo of hornfelses. At a distance, with an exit from the hornfelsed zone, there are occurrences of a cassiterite-sulphide formation with elevated gold and silver content at the top of the ore column, together with an increased amount of polymetallic ores. Occurrences of gold-quartz and gold-sulphide-quartz formations are localized in fault zones, as a rule, farther from granitoids. The total vertical range of gold mineralization exceeds 300 m. The assignment of all types of mineralization in the Kropotkinsko-Nikitinskaya metallogenic zone of Bolshevik Island to a single hydrothermal process is emphasized by the similar isotope composition of lead galena from heterogeneous occurrences, which determines the age of all mineralization at 200-300 Ma.
Gold content, at least twice higher than the gold percentage abundance in Earth’s crust, has been discovered in a number of black slates formations in Tajmyr-Severnaya Zemlya gold province. The article shows the measurement data on organic carbon and ore elements concentrations in carbonaceous sediments, with pyrite, being their constituent, in the region. The dependence of ore elements availability, including gold, on sulphidisation degree in rocks has been identified in an ore bundle of Golyshevskaja strata. The comparison of gold concentrations in sampled monocrystals and pyrite aggregates has been carried out. It has been empirically supported that the content of gold, lead, molybdenum, cobalt, nickel and copper normally grows with the increase of sulphides quantity. Concentrations of chromium, manganese, tin, vanadium decrease respectively; however, titanium and zinc content remains unchanged.
